The recent announcement of the Indian cricket team for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has ignited a debate in the cricketing fraternity, with the exclusion of Rinku Singh drawing widespread criticism. Singh, who played a pivotal role in India victories in various tournaments, including the 2023 Asian Games and the recent T20 series against Afghanistan, has been left out of the squad.
The decision has been met with dismay from fans and experts alike, who believe Singh’s exclusion is unjustified. Former cricketer and renowned commentator, Kris Srikanth, expressed his disappointment with the selection committee decision, calling it a “rubbish choice” and accusing them of making Singh a scapegoat.
Singh impressive performance in the last IPL series, where he made his debut for India by smashing five sixes against Gujarat, had raised hopes for his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad. However, despite his consistent contributions to the team’s success, the selection committee cited his failure to score big runs in the current IPL series as the reason for his exclusion.
Srikanth, in a scathing critique on his YouTube page, questioned the fairness of dropping Singh based solely on his performance in the ongoing IPL series. He argued that Singh past contributions to the team, including his crucial role in India victory against Afghanistan, where he helped India recover from a precarious 22/4, should have been considered.
“Rinku Singh should have been there in my view even if the others were not taken,” Srikanth said. “He delivered victories in South Africa. Remember Rohit Sharma’s last match century against Afghanistan? Rinku was instrumental in helping India score 212 after stumbling to 22/4. He has given his all for India in every opportunity he got. So it’s a rubbish choice.”
Srikanth also questioned the selection of four spinners in the squad, suggesting that Singh’s exclusion might have been a result of attempting to please certain individuals within the cricketing fraternity. “Do you need 4 spinners? You have made this choice to please some people. For that, you have turned Rinku Singh into a scapegoat,” he remarked.
The debate surrounding Singh exclusion reflects the broader issue of selection policies and the criteria used by the selection committee. While the selectors have the unenviable task of choosing the best possible squad, the exclusion of a player like Rinku Singh, who has consistently performed well for the team, raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the selection process.
As the Indian cricket team prepares for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the controversy surrounding Rinku Singh exclusion is unlikely to die down soon, with fans and experts continuing to voice their opinions on the matter.